A Catholic priest in Kogi State, Rev. Fr. Wilfred Ezemba of St. Paul Catholic Parish, Agaliga‑Efabo, located in Olamaboro Local Government Area, has been abducted by armed men.
The incident reportedly occurred on Saturday, September 13, 2025, along the Imane–Ogugu Road.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that other commuters traveling on the same route may have also been kidnapped.
Since the abduction, the kidnappers have made no contact with the church or the priest’s family, raising fears and uncertainty within the local Catholic community.
“We are confused because since his abduction three days ago, his abductors have not made any contact to demand a ransom. But we are, however, confident that Almighty God will deliver him safely from the grip of the kidnappers,” said another local priest, who identified himself as Fr. Michael.
Security agencies including the Nigeria Police, the military and members of the Kogi East Neighbourhood Watch, have launched a coordinated search, combing nearby bushes and forests for any sign of the kidnappers.
This is the second reported kidnapping in the area in one week. On Sunday, September 7, a legal practitioner, Barr. A. B. Shaibu, was reportedly abducted between Etieke and Okugoh in the same LGA.
He was later released after the payment of an undisclosed ransom.
When contacted, the spokesman of the Kogi State Police Command, SP Williams Ovye Aya, said he had not yet received official information on the incident, but promised to follow up with officers on the ground.
